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Malaysia approves Korean Air-Asiana Airlines merger
September 10th 2021
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) has approved the proposed merger of Korean Air (KAL) and Asiana Airlines. Read More » The regulator's final decision, published yesterday, said that while the post-merger market share of the combined Asiana-KAL airline on the Seoul-Kota Kinabalu route would be higher, the consolidation would not cause any unilateral effects or act as a barrier to entry and expansion for the related markets. The decision also noted Asiana had been in financial distress for some time and could not be rehabilitated without the merger. "As the only sector regulator in Malaysia with the function to decide on competition-related matters for anticipated mergers and mergers, our approval of the merger between Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines takes into full consideration the information and feedback presented by all parties and the Commission’s own research and analysis," MAVCOM executive chairman, Saripuddin Hj. Kasim, said. MAVCOM indicated it would approve the tie-up in a draft decision published last month.
